Patrick Greene and Tim Devanney, both GOP candidates for the BOD, call for reforming, consolidating and developing a stronger BOD oversight procedure for Boards and Commissions. We could use fresh ideas like this in Manchester. There are many excellent volunteers on the Commissions but in some cases, they get little direction from the BOD and their missions are vague or outdated. The multi-decade failure of the Bennet Housing Corporation is a perfect illustration of the need for reform.
The Bennet Housing Corporation was set up years ago by the BOD to oversee Bennet Apartments. It’s members are appointed by the BOD. The Town gave the privately held VESTA Corporation a lease to operate the apartment complex. Ultimately the VESTA Corporation let the Bennet building deteriorate and failed to pay the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars in PILOT payments (payment in lieu of taxes). Almost all of this occurred during Democrat BOD majorities. Although its volunteers are dedicated, the Bennet Housing Corporation was a “Commission” with a vague mission and little direction from the BOD over several decades. This led to a loss of revenue for the town and deterioration of the building, yet to be resolved.
When this was investigated by Manchester Review in 2010 due to complaints from tenants, the Bennet Housing Corporation had last met in 2008 (during the last GOP majority) and it's members admitted little understanding of their mission. The Bennet Corporation did not meet again until January of 2012 (well into another Dem majority on the BOD) and only after the debt and tenant complaints were made public. Clearly the no one was watching.
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The Democrat Chairman recently blasted the "newcomer" candidates for raising the issue. "They are irresponsible and have no experience!" Can the criticism be a smokescreen to hide the failure of the Bennet Housing Commission that occurred over several decades during which the BOD had a Democrat majority? Are there other Commission volunteers languishing with no direction?
Reviewing the mission and functioning of all commissions with an eye for reform is a legitimate concern. Perhaps Manchester could benefit from the fresh outlook of some "inexperienced newcomers" such as Ptrick Greene and Tim Devanney.
